Goldilocks and the Three Bears

I always enjoy the LMCS pantomime and this year was no exception. This was just the sort of entertainment to cheer one up on a dreary January evening. There was plenty of humour and the slapstick moments were spread throughout the show giving the audience lots of opportunities to shout and heckle. The orchestra was excellent, playing a rousing overture followed by a great rendition of ‘Come Follow the Band’, starting this production with the right ‘feel good’ factor.  The direction, orchestration and choreography coupled with accomplished performances from the principals and chorus ensured that the audience went home humming the very popular musical numbers.  The scenery was simple, smoothly and efficiently changed, the costumes were outstanding and the choreography was interesting, fitting appropriately to the words of the well chosen songs which appealed to all ages.

The opening of Act one was excellent but the opening of Act two surpassed it! I have seldom seen such spectacular dancing on an amateur stage than this company of dancers performing the ‘Can-Can’. They moved this production into a different league. They were brilliant.

Jade Wadey as Goldilocks, the central character, gave a confident performance that kept the audience interested in the story. A little more work on breath control will help her to sustain those higher notes but projection was good and diction excellent. However, for me the outstanding performance of the evening was that of Jade Berry as Antonio the Romany Prince. Her interpretation of this character was particularly unusual and memorable causing much merriment in the audience without the use of slapstick. Meg Attrill and Luc Harvengt as Dunn and Dusted, the not so bad baddies, were again rather unusual. Their parts were very well written and they made the most of the fact, acting the comedy duo exceptionally well. Charlotte Grimes as the real baddie managed to come over as thoroughly unpleasant without actually frightening the children in the audience. Her version of ‘Evil Like Me’ was outstanding. Marie Ball as Romany Rose was this pantomime's version of ‘the good fairy’ opening the show with a flourish and leading the chorus in ‘Living La Vida Loca’ all with great presence.

The audience loved Barry Bastable as the Dame and Ryan Richardson as he son Barney, both of whom were excellent at getting the viewers involved, Barry with his bag of sweets and Ryan’s outstanding version of ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’. A good Dame and Side-Kick are essential in any Pantomime, even if it is a Circus, and every village requires a Mayor, and in this case a love-sick daughter. These four character actors have a natural ability to combine body language and facial expression with clear diction and an overall understand of performance on stage. Add to this a delightful family of bears, some great children all acting and dancing with confidence and a hard working chorus all adding to this fun production.

A well directed and lively show throughout and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

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